they began the day paul brown proposed an amendment that would cut off all funding that would require states and counties to get federal approval before changing their election laws. enter an icon of the civil rights movement, john lewis, who was brutally beaten as a freedom marcher back in the '60s. >> it is hard and difficult and almost unbelievable that any member, but especially a member from the state of georgia, would come and offer such an amendment. there's a long history in our country, especially in the 11 states of the confederacy, from virginia to texas, of discrimination based on race, on color. before the voting rights act of 1965, it was almost impossible for many people in the state of georgia, in alabama, in virginia, in texas to register to vote, to participate in the democratic process. it's shameful that you would come here tonight and say to the department of justice that you must not use one penny, one cent, one dime, one dollar to carry out the mandate of section 5 of the voting rights act. we should be opened up to the political process and let all our citizens